[03/10/09 - 12:23 PM]CBS Places First in Viewers for the 18th Time in 24 WeeksCBS spins the numbers for the week of March 2-8.

[via press release from CBS]

CBS PLACES FIRST IN VIEWERS FOR THE 18TH TIME IN 24 WEEKS

CBS Continues as the Only Network Up Year-to-Year in all Key Measures

"CSI," Featuring Guest Star Taylor Swift, Is the Week's Top Scripted Program

A Rebroadcast of "NCIS" Outdelivers Every Scripted Program on the Competition

CBS Delivers Its Largest Saturday Audience Since 2006 Led by "48 Hours Mystery"

"60 Minutes" and "The Amazing Race" Win their Time Periods

CBS placed first in viewers for the 18th time in 24 weeks and continues as the only network to post year-to-year gains in all key measures, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending March 8, week 24 of the 2008-2009 television season.

CBS's weekly victory was fueled by CSI, the week's top scripted program in viewers and demos, a solid rebroadcast of NCIS which outdelivered every scripted program on the competition and 48 HOURS MYSTERY, which paced the Network to its largest Saturday audience with regularly scheduled programming since November 2006.

Season-to-date compared to last season, CBS is the only broadcast network to improve its delivery in viewers (+10%), adults 25-54 (+5%), adults 18-49 (+7%) and adults 18-34 (+5%).

For the week in viewers: CBS (11.23m) led FOX (11.20m), ABC (7.97m) and NBC (6.02m). Season-to-date, CBS is first in viewers (11.78m), ahead of FOX (9.43m), ABC (8.93m) and NBC (8.30m).

For the week in key demographics, CBS was second in adults 25-54 (3.7/09) and adults 18-49 (2.8/08). Season-to-date, CBS is first in adults 25-54 (4.1/10) and second in adults 18-49 (3.2/08). Compared to the same week last year, CBS was up +32% in households, +39% in viewers, +28% in adults 25-54 and +27% in adults 18-49.

For the week in households: CBS (7.0/12) ahead of FOX (6.5/11), ABC (5.2/09) and NBC (3.8/06). In households, season-to-date, CBS is first (7.3/12), ahead of ABC (5.7/09), FOX (5.6/09) and NBC (5.0/08).

CBS Weekly Highlights:

? TWO AND A HALF MEN was first in adults 25-54 (6.3/13), second in households (9.2/13), viewers (15.47m, -0.13m behind ABC) and adults 18-49 (4.9/11). Compared to the last first-run episode (on Feb. 9), TWO AND A HALF MEN was up +3% in adults 25-54 (from 6.1/13), +2% in adults 18-49 (from 4.8/11), even in households and added +470,000 viewers (from 15.00m, +3%).

? The third season premiere of RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (P) (7.2/10, 11.82m) was second in households, adults 25-54 (5.1/10) and adults 18-49 (3.9/09).

? ELEVENTH HOUR was first in households (7.8/13), viewers (12.05m), second in adults 25-54 (3.9/10) and adults 18-49 (2.9/08). Compared to last week, ELEVENTH HOUR was up +3% in households (from 7.6/13), +4% in adults 18-49 (from 2.8/08), even in adults 25-54 and added +350,000 viewers (from 11.70m, +3%). This is ELEVENTH HOUR's best performances in households, viewers and adults 18-49 since Jan. 29, 2009.

-- Friday, CBS won the night in households (6.4/12), viewers (10.36m), adults 25-54 (3.2/09) and adults 18-49 (2.3/08). CBS was first in adults 25-54 for the 21st time in 22 weeks, first in adults 18-49 for the 20th time in 22 weeks.

? GHOST WHISPERER won its time period in households (6.9/13), viewers (11.09m), adults 25-54 (3.7/11) and adults 18-49 (2.6/09).

? FLASHPOINT was first in households (6.1/11), viewers (9.86m), tied for first in adults 25-54 (2.8/08, with ABC) and adults 18-49 (2.0/06, with ABC). This was FLASHPOINT's best delivery in viewers since Jan. 23, 2009, best adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 performances since Feb. 6, 2009. Compared to last week, FLASHPOINT was up +5% in both households (from 5.8/10) and adults 18-49 (from 1.9/06), +8% in adults 25-54 (from 2.6/07) and +870,000 viewers (from 8.99m, +11%).

-- Saturday, CBS was first in households (5.3/10), viewers (8.23m), tied for first in adults 25-54 (2.3/07, with FOX) and second in adults 18-49 (1.7/06). This was CBS's best Saturday delivery with regularly scheduled programming in both households and viewers since November 11, 2006 and in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 since Jan. 10, 2009.

? 48 HOURS MYSTERY was first in households (5.8/11), viewers (8.81m), adults 25-54 (3.0/09) and adults 18-49 (2.2/07). 48 HOURS MYSTERY was the night's #1 program in households, adults 25-54, adults 18-49 and #2 in viewers. This was 48 HOURS MYSTERY's best delivery in both households and adults 18-49 since March 24, 2007 (delayed by NCAA tournament), best delivery in both viewers and adults 25-54 since November 4, 2006.

-- Sunday, CBS was first in households (7.0/12), viewers (11.36m), second in adults 25-54 (3.5/09) and adults 18-49 (2.6/07).

? COLD CASE was second in households (7.8/12), viewers (12.62m) and adults 25-54 (3.9/09). This was COLD CASE's best delivery in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 (3.0/07) since Jan. 11, 2009 (delayed 8 minutes by football).

? THE UNIT was second in households (5.7/09) and viewers (9.38m). This was THE UNIT's best delivery in viewers, adults 25-54 (3.0/07) and adults 18-49 (2.3/06) since Jan. 11, 2009 (delayed 8 minutes by football).